Effect of additives on electrokinetic properties of colloidal alumina suspension

Additive interactions and their effects on electrokinetic properties of colloidal alumina suspension are presented in this study. Dibasic ammonium citrate (DAC), natural egg albumin, and octanol-2 are chosen as additives. The surface charge behavior of a 5% (w/v) colloidal alumina suspension in the presence of these additives has been studied in detail. The optimum dosage of DAC to have a stable suspension is found to be 3 mg/g of alumina whereas it is 105 and 164 mg/g of alumina for albumin and octanol-2, respectively. Albumin was found to be a better dispersant than DAC and interacts more strongly than DAC with the surface of alumina, while octanol-2 shows physisorbing characteristics. Turbidity measurements indicate that albumin and DAC interact. When the DAC : albumin molar ratio exceeds 10, the turbidity of the solution is higher than the turbidity of pure albumin, indicating the formation of complexes.